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FASTING IN RAMADAN

CONTENTS

1. WHAT IS FASTING? … … 2

2. WHO MUST FAST? … 3

3. WHO ARE EXEMPTED FROM FASTING? … 3

4. COMPENSATION FOR NOT FASTING … 4

5. HOW SHOULD ONE FAST? … 5

6. WHAT NULLIFIES A FAST? … 6

7. WHAT DOES NOT NULLIFY A FAST? … 6

8. BENEFITS OF FASTING … 7

9. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS … 9

10. LAILAT-UL-QADR (The Night of Power/Destiny) … 11

11. `EID-UL-FITR (The Festival of Fast-Breaking) … 12

12. ZAKAT AL-FITR (Sadaqah al-Fitr) … 12

The Prophet’s (Pbuh) Speech Welcoming Ramadan 14

Non-Muslims’ Common Questions about Ramadan 15

O you who believe! Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those

before you, so that you might attain God-consciousness. ... It was the month of

Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, as guidance unto humankind and

a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern

the true from the false. Hence whoever of you lives to see this month, shall fast

throughout it; but anyone who is ill, or on a journey, should make up for the

lost days by fasting on other days.

(The Qur'an 2:183,185)

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FASTING IN RAMADAN

1. WHAT IS FASTING?

The Islamic term for fasting is SIYAM. (SAUM: a fast).

It literally means “abstaining”.

As an Islamic term it refers to abstaining completely from eating, drinking, smoking

and sex, from dawn until sunset with the explicit intention of doing so for the sake of

Allah. In addition, it includes, on a behavioral level, abstaining from falsehood,

speaking ill of others, engaging in angry talk, quarreling, indecency, and wrong

behavior of any sort.

It is an obligatory act of worship, and one of the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’. Denying the

obligatory nature of fasting in the month of Ramadan amounts to disbelief, and

avoiding fasting without genuine reasons is considered a sinful act.

It is a unique experience of self-control, sharing, and gratitude to God.

Fasting is not an ascetic or self-mortifying practice, observed as a penance for sins or

to appease God’s wrath, but it is an act of self-discipline and obedience to God, aimed

at making a person ever-conscious of God.

Historically, fasting during Ramadan was ordained to Muslims during the second year

of Hijrah.

Fasting is not something new that Islam has instituted for its adherents. It had been

ordained by God for earlier people also, including Christians, Jews, and Hindus.

Although the original practices of fasting in the earlier religions are not fully known,

it is very likely that their present way of fasting has been altered. In Islam the manner

of fasting is the same as it was prescribed originally.

RAMADAN

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It begins as well as ends with

the sighting of a new moon. Each of its 29 or 30 days is a day of fasting.

For a Muslim it is a time out for a spiritual drill, which serves to offset one’s

attachment to physico-biological pursuits during the other eleven months of the

year.

It is a month of intensive devotional activity, self-discipline and self-control.

It is the month in which God’s final revelation (the Qur’an) was revealed.

During the month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to allocate a

degree of worship that was not set aside to any other month. His nights were

spent in supplication and humiliation unto His Lord, seeking His help, support,

victory and guidance.

2. WHO MUST FAST?

Fasting during the entire month of Ramadan is obligatory on every adult Muslim – man

and woman. However, there are a few exemptions as mentioned below.

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3. WHO ARE EXEMPTED FROM FASTING?

Fasting is not obligatory for the following persons:

1. INSANE PERSONS: Those who are mentally unsound are not accountable for their

obligations.

2. OLD PERSONS: Those who are weak with age, and who would suffer physical harm

from fasting.

3. SICK PERSONS: Those who are sick, and fasting is likely to affect their health severely.

A little headache or a similar indisposition, or a minor injury, is not a valid excuse.

4. TRAVELERS: Those traveling long distances may be exempt from observing fast during

the course of traveling.

5. PREGNANT WOMEN & NURSING MOTHERS: They may be exempt from observing

fast if it is likely to endanger their own health and/or the health of their infants.

6. WOMEN DURING MENSTRUATION & CONFINEMENT: Women during the period

of menstruation (maximum ten days) and in confinement after child-birth must not fast, even

if they can, and want to fast.

7. CHILDREN: Fasting is not obligatory for children before the age of puberty. However, it

is recommended to encourage them to fast, step by step, as they grow. For example, small

children may fast for half a day or so to get accustomed to fasting, or if they are capable to

fast, they can do so for a day or a few days.

4. COMPENSATION FOR NOT FASTING DURING RAMADAN

1. INSANE PERSONS & CHILDREN: No compensation.

2. OLD PERSONS (incapable of fasting): They must offer a full day’s meal to a poor

person for each non-fasting day.

3. SICK PERSONS: They must fast any time later for the number of days missed due to

sickness during Ramadan. However, if the disease is incurable, or the person is always sick

and is not able to fast throughout the year, then the compensation is to offer a full day’s meal

to a poor person for each missed fast.

4. TRAVELERS: They must fast any day later on, and complete the count of the fasting

days missed while traveling.

5. WOMEN: They must fast any day later on, and complete the count of the fasting days

missed during menses.

The MISSED FASTS can be made up at any other time of the year, either continuously or

intermittently, except on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and the day of Eid-ul-Adha.

The PENALTY (kaffaarah) for a person who deliberately fails to fast or breaks the fast of

Whoever breaks his fast during Ramadan without having one of the

excuses for which Allah would excuse him, then even a perpetual fast, if

he were to fast it, would not make up for that day. (Reported by Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, & Bukhari)

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Ramadan without a legitimate excuse, is fasting for sixty consecutive days, or if unable to do

that, then to feed sixty poor people, for every day so missed, or spend in charity an amount

equal to feeding sixty persons.

It is permitted to break the fast of Ramadan when there is a danger to one’s health.

5. HOW SHOULD ONE FAST?

a. INTENTION (niyyah): As in any other act of worship, one must have the intention to fast

the coming day before that day begins. The intention should be made daily, preferably before

dawn of each day of fasting. It can be made before going to bed, or after isha or even

maghrib prayers, for the fast on the following day. The niyyah may be as follows: "I intend

to observe fast for today." It is not required to pronounce it by the tongue.

b. PRE-DAWN MEAL (suhoor): This is a light meal to be taken before starting the fast (i.e.,

between middle of the night and the onset of dawn). It is not obligatory, but it is strongly

recommended by the Prophet (pbuh) to wake up before dawn and eat or drink something

before the onset of dawn. It is a virtuous thing, and there is blessing in it. This also serves as

intention. It is preferred to delay the suhoor until just before the dawn.

c. FAST (saum): From the break of dawn until sunset (i.e., from just before the starting time

of fajr prayers until the time of maghrib prayers) one must completely abstain from eating,

drinking, smoking, etc. However, if somebody eats or drinks unintentionally, forgetting that

he/she is fasting (which sometimes happens in the beginning of the month) this does not

nullify the fast, provided eating or drinking is stopped the moment the mistake is realized.

d. BREAKING OF FAST (futoor or iftaar): Immediately after sunset (i.e., with the start of

the maghrib prayer time) the fast is broken by eating/drinking something, preferably dates or

water, and then the maghrib prayers are offered. The following dua (supplication) may be

said at the time of breaking the fast:

Allahumma laka sumto wa ‘ala rizqeka aftarto.

(O Allah! I have fasted for Your sake, and I am breaking my fast

from the sustenance You blessed me with.)

It is strongly recommended to hasten in breaking the fast once the sun has set.

e. TARAWEEH PRAYERS: These are special prayers offered during Ramadan immediately

after the Isha prayers. These are not obligatory, but are strongly recommended.

6. WHAT NULLIFIES A FAST?

Deliberate eating, drinking, or smoking during the fasting hours.

If anything enters the interior parts of the body, through the mouth or nose, or even by

intravenous nutritional injection.

Conjugal relations during the fast.

Beginning of menstruation, post-childbirth bleeding.

7. WHAT DOES NOT NULLIFY A FAST?

Eating, drinking, or smoking by mistake, i.e., unmindful of the fast.

Unintentional vomiting.

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Swallowing things which are not possible to avoid, such as one's own saliva, street dust,

smoke, etc.

Brushing the teeth.

Bathing: if water is swallowed unintentionally, it does not invalidate the fast.

Injection or I/V (Intravenous) which is solely medicinal and not nutritional.

In some special circumstances if the food or drink is just tasted and immediately

removed out of the mouth without allowing it to enter into the throat.

8. BENEFITS OF FASTING

Fasting, like any other act of worship in Islam, has a purpose and a meaning. It is

beneficial to man in different aspects of his life. Some of the distinct benefits of fasting are

as follows:

A. SPIRITUAL BENEFITS:

Ramadan is a month of God’s blessings, mercy, and forgiveness.

When a person fasts, he does so for God and for His sake alone. This imbues in him the

qualities of devotion to God, love for Him, and readiness and eagerness to obey His

commands. One demonstrates by his fasting that he is not a slave to habits but a ‘slave’

(i.e., a devoted servant) of God.

The month-long training develops in a person the quality to be patient, and generates

the ability to control and discipline the body and mind, desires and habits. All these

qualities help him in refraining from sinful acts, and in prompting to do good deeds,

throughout the year.

Fasting cultivates in an individual a sound conscience, since a person who keeps a fast

is satisfying his own conscience in pleasing God, with no authority to compel him to

fast or to check his behavior. It is exclusively a private worship, and a sure sign of

faith, as no one other than God, can be completely sure that a person is truly fasting or

only pretending to do so.

B. SOCIAL BENEFITS:

Through fasting, a person is able to learn to understand, to appreciate, and to

practically feel the afflictions of the poor through his own temporary hunger and

thirst. This encourages a person to be active and compassionate towards the poor and

the needy.

One also develops the spirit of social belonging, unity and brotherhood/sisterhood, as

the whole Muslim world joins in performing this spiritual act.

Every good deed of a son of Adam is [normally] multiplied ten to seven

hundred times [for its reward on the Day of Judgment]. Allah has said:

[This is] with the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will

give the reward for it [as I like], as one abandons his passions and food

for My sake. (Reported by Muslim)

Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan with faith and seeks Allah’s

pleasure and reward, will have his previous sins forgiven. (Reported by Ahmed)

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C. PHYSICAL BENEFITS:

Fasting is good for the health. Regulatory and reparative processes of the body are given

unimpeded encouragement by the temporary omission of food.

It has been known that fasting, or the abstinence from food, is a means used in nature

even by animals, to assist the body to relieve itself from discomfort, pain and disease.

Fasting is like an annual servicing for the digestive system. It gives the digestive

system a much-needed rest. After fasting, both digestion and elimination are

invigorated.

Fasting promotes:

- Detoxification. As the body breaks down its fat reserves, it mobilizes and

eliminates stored toxins.

- The resolution of inflammatory processes, such as in rheumatoid arthritis.

- The drying up of abnormal fluid accumulations, such as edema in the ankles and

legs and swelling in the abdomen.

Fasting makes it easy to overcome bad habits and addictions. Many people have

overcome tobacco and alcohol addictions by fasting, and even drug addictions.

Fasting rapidly dissipates the craving for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and other drugs.

Fasting corrects high blood pressure without drugs. Fasting will normalize blood

pressure in the vast majority of cases, the blood pressure will remain low after the

fast, if the person follows a health-supporting diet and lifestyle.

Fasting quiets allergic reactions, including asthma and hay fever.

Fasting initiates rapid weight loss with little or no hunger. Most people are surprised

at how little desire for food they have while fasting.

9. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

a- Fasting is not only an act of abstaining from eating and drinking alone, but one is also

required to refrain from all sorts of bad deeds, vain talks and indecency. Thus, telling a lie,

breaking a promise, back-biting, cheating, quarreling, looking at prohibited things, etc., are to

be avoided. If someone slanders or scolds you, you should not retaliate by losing your

temper, but you should respond by saying: I am fasting.

One must realize that while fasting, a person abstains/refrains from things which are

halal (lawful) during normal times, how can he go back to those acts which are haram

(prohibited)?! One must always watch himself/herself in using his senses, mind, and

especially the tongue.

b- One is expected to spend his time, as far as possible, in remembering Allah, in reciting the

Holy Qur’an, in prayers and supplications, etc. It is recommended to complete the recitation

of the entire Qur’an at least once during the whole month. The Prophet (pbuh) said that Allah

does not reject the supplications of a fasting person, particularly the supplications made just

before breaking the fast.

If one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, then Allah does

not need him to abandon the food and drink. (Reported by Bukhari)

Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and

thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except

wakefulness. (Reported by Darimi).

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c- One should increase his good deeds and charity activities during the month of Ramadan.

They carry more reward when performed during this month.

d- The fasting person should remember that: -

1. Simply abstaining from food and drink is the lowest grade of fast.

2. The thing desired is to keep even the ears, eyes, tongue, limbs free from sinning (–see

no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil, do no evil).

3. Fasting of the heart, i.e., abstaining from unworthy & worldly thoughts is what that

helps develop piety.

e- Since the aim of fasting is to generate GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS (Taqwa), see how it can

be achieved:

1- Contemplation and Self-assessment, introspection: Ask yourself every day

sincerely if you have simply stopped eating, drinking and other sensual pleasures, or

you are mindful about abstaining from the prohibited things, from lying, backbiting,

cheating, jealousy, etc. Ask yourself whether you are able to develop compassion, care

and concern for others.

2- Patience, forbearance: By controlling the selfish and carnal desires and temptations,

one gets trained for observing patience, and is useful at times when these temptations

and desires try to slip you away.

3- Prayers: Salah performed fulfilling its due requirements helps to stop from doing evil

and shameful things. The extra prayers in the month of Ramadan provide an

opportunity to get closer to Allah.

4- Recitation of the Qur’an: Even if read without understanding, one enjoys the

reading. The time thus spent brings reward, and saves one from indulging in useless

activities. If read with understanding, this helps a lot to benefit from its miraculous

effects on the heart.

5- Supplications: This is a season of acceptance of duas. God accepts the prayers and

bestows His mercy and blessings, forgiveness and salvation.

6- Forgiving those who hurt you: Let the anger and pain go off by forgiving those who

have hurt you. Forgiving someone is good for the body, as well as for the soul.

Insha’Allah Allah will grant His forgiveness if you forgive others.

7- Be charitable and generous: The Prophet (pbuh) was always generous but even more

so in Ramadan. Even less a small amount a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's

the intention that counts.

10. LAILAT-UL-QADR (The Night of Power/Destiny)

Lailat-ul-Qadr is the night in which the Qur’an was revealed. Sincere worship and

devotion in that night is better in value than a thousand months of worship (as

mentioned in chapter 97 of the Qur’an). Angel Gabriel and other angels descend to

earth on that night invoking blessings on those who are worshiping God (as reported by

Baihaqi).

Which night in the month of Ramadan is Lailat-ul-Qadr? This is not specifically made

known to us. The Prophet (pbuh) has urged us to seek this blessed night in the odd-

numbered nights of the last ten days (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th) of Ramadan

Whoever stands [in prayer] during the night of Qadr with

[complete] faith and seeking the reward [from Allah], Allah will

forgive his previous sins. (Reported by Bukhari)

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Prayer, supplications, asking forgiveness for one’s sins, and recitation of the Qur’an are

the highly recommended acts of devotion. The following is the recommended dua

(supplication) in this night

Allahumma innaka `afoowun, tuhibbul-`afwa, fa`fu `anni.

(O Allah! You are Most Forgiving, You love to forgive, then do forgive me.)

11. `EID-UL-FITR

(The Festival of Fast-Breaking)

`Eid-ul-Fitr is the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, and falls on the first day of

the following month (Shawwal) of the Islamic [lunar] calendar. Fasting is forbidden on

this day. This occasion is a time of great joy and thankfulness to God.

The festival activities start with first offering the `Eid prayer. It is a special

congregational prayer held in the morning (usually shortly after sunrise). This is

followed by visiting and exchanging greetings, good wishes to relatives and friends, and

gifts especially to children.

The festival is characterized by a special obligatory charity (zakat-ul-fitr) to be given to

the poor before the `Eid prayer.

The festival is not an aimless merry-making occasion, but rather is celebrated according

to the guidance provided for this purpose, which reflects a combination of both spiritual

and social aspects in a way that brings joy and pleasure to people of all ages and all

walks of life.

12. ZAKAT AL-FITR (Sadaqah al-Fitr)

Zakat al-Fitr is the charity which is to be distributed at the end of the fasting of

Ramadan.

It is obligatory on every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult, as long as

he/she has the means to do so. The head of the household may pay the required amount

for himself, his wife, children, and servants.

It becomes obligatory for a particular period of time – from sunset on the last day of

fasting until the beginning of Salah al-`Eid (i.e. shortly after sunrise on the following

day). However, it can be paid prior to the above mentioned period, as many of the

Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) used to pay it a couple days before the `Eid.

Zakat al-Fitr is not nullified simply by failure to pay it on its due time. If it is not paid

before `Eid prayer, one is not exempt from it; and whoever pays it after the `Eid prayer,

will not get the blessings of it, because it will be rendered as ordinary charity.

The jurists hold different views as to the types of food which must be given as Zakat

al-Fitr. The minimum amount is one Saa` (two handfuls) of food, grain, flour, or dried

fruit for each member of the family. Although giving food is always preferred, some

scholars agree for paying money in situations where it becomes difficult to giving food

personally, or if this does not help the poor. In Muslim countries, ministries of religious

affairs and Muslim charity organizations, and in other countries mosques and Islamic

centers, announce the value of Zakat al-Fitr every year. It is better that one pays an

extra amount, particularly for those who are wealthy, for they will be rewarded for it.

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The main purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is: (1) to purify those who fasted, from any indecent

act or speech during Ramadan, and (2) to provide the poor and needy with a means with

which they can celebrate the festival along with the rest of the Muslims.

_________

THE PROPHET’S (PBUH) SPEECH

Welcoming Ramadan

Salman (may Allah be pleased with him), the Companion of the Prophet, reports: On the last

day of the month of Sha`ban, the messenger of Allah (pbuh) had addressed us and said:

‘O people! There comes over you now a great month, a blessed month.

- This is a month in which lies a night that is better [in virtue] than a thousand months.

- This is a month during which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast by day, and

voluntary to pray by night.

- Whoever draws nearer [to Allah] by performing any [optional] good deed in this [month],

it would be as if he has performed an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever

performs an obligatory deed in [this month], it would be as if he has performed seventy

such obligatory deeds at any other time.

- It is the month of patience and forbearance, and the reward of patience is Paradise.

- It is the month of compassion and charity, and a month in which a believer’s sustenance

is increased.

- Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and

will be saved from the hellfire, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person,

without his reward being diminished at all.

- The Companions said, ‘O messenger of Allah, not all of us would be in a position to give

food.’ The Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘Allah would give this reward even to the one who gives

a person a date, or water, or laban, to break the fast.

- And this is a month the first part of which is mercy, the middle part forgiveness, and the

last part saving from hellfire.

- Whoever reduces the workload from his servant, Allah would forgive his sins and save

from fire.

- Increase four activities during this month; by two of which your Lord be pleased, and as

for the other two, you will always be in need of them. The two things by which your Lord

would be pleased are testifying that there is no god but Allah, and your asking forgiveness

from Him. The other two things which you will always be in need are your asking Allah

Paradise, and seeking refuge of Him from the hellfire.

- Whoever gives water to drink to break the fast of a person, Allah will give him water

from His Fount [on the Day of Judgment], such that he would not feel thirsty till he enters

Paradise.’

(Reported by Ibn Khuzaymah, al-Bayhaqi, Ibn Habban)

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Non-Muslims’

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT RAMADAN

Non-Muslims living amongst Muslims have a chance to observe the practice of Ramadan

within a Muslim social context. It is helpful for them to know first that fasting throughout the

lunar month of Ramadan is one of the "pillars" or foundational requirements of the Islamic

faith, and also that this period of fasting has its own universal rules, an etiquette, as well as

some local customs.

The first and foremost pillar is the attestation to belief in the One God, awesomely transcendent yet nearer to a person than his own body is near to him, God who alone creates and maintains the universe as He sees fit, without partner and without assistance, providing life and growth, both physically and spiritually, for each individual and each ethnic group. Divine guidance is invested in the prophets sent throughout the ages, to every people, and in their Books of revealed wisdom, the final prophet being Mohammad (peace be upon him) and the final Book or "Testament" being the Holy Qur’an. Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah (peace be upon them) were major previous prophets and worthy of following, to the extent that accurate information about them and their teachings is preserved.

The other pillars are practiced in conjunction with faith in the Unique, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Wise, All-Caring God: Prayer is a five-times-daily habit which serves to keep the Believer conscious of God and submitted [i.e., Islam] to doing what God has set as the norm required for human success. Charitable giving of one’s resources, in terms of money, goods, knowledge, time, efforts, etc., is a grateful sharing of part of one’s blessings from God, given to those in need. Social solidarity is one of the benefits derived from the Muslim’s performance of Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during his lifetime, if he is physically and financially able; there s/he takes part in a ritual re-enactment of trying events from the prophetic life of Abraham, and Believers stand in Prayer before God, in awesome rehearsal of the Standing before God on the coming Day of Judgment, when all mankind will be present. Q.1 Why are non-Muslims not allowed to eat, drink or smoke in public?

A. In most Muslim countries, where most of the people are Muslim and they observe

fasting during Ramadan, the local law does not allow people (whether non-Muslims or non-

fasting Muslims) to eat, drink or smoke ‘in public’. This is out of respect for the holy month,

and out of consideration to those who are collectively fasting and trying to keep themselves

away from the prohibited things. This also saves from distraction the Muslims with weak

faith or wavering discipline in the face of bodily urges. Just as eating together binds people,

fasting together too brings them closer. The non-Muslims may well eat and drink, but

without displaying this in the sight of Muslims, as a non-Muslim is not asked to hold to

Muslim practices.

Q.2 Isn’t fasting harmful for the health?

A. No, fasting is not at all harmful to a normal person, nor does it cause any disease. On the

contrary, it is a medically recommended practice for maintaining good health. Fasting is

valued as one of the oldest forms of treatment in ancient civilizations and it is gaining ground

with modern “nature cure” specialists, too. Though fasting cannot be claimed as the antidote

to all diseases, it helps the body by putting it in a state where all its energy is periodically

directed towards overcoming its ills, and therein lies its worth.

Fasting is said to achieve three physiological benefits: burn up the dead cells in the

body, provide glucose to all the cells stored in the liver, and supply energy to all cells by

utilizing the fat cells. By fasting enzymes get rejuvenated and toxins eaten up by them.

Eating might be a simple activity for a person, yet the heavy food that one takes in passes

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through long gastrointestinal tracts, and liquids have to be processed through a million odd

filters in the kidneys. Even the skin is not spared of the strain when it comes to eliminating

wastes by assimilating and digesting food. Fasting is a phenomenon inherent to the human

body serving to conserve the energy of our system.

However, if a person is already suffering from a certain disease which does not

tolerate fasting, such a person is exempted from the requirements of Ramadan fasting.

Q.3 Why is Ramadan not fixed in a particular time of the [solar] year?

A. Ramadan is a month within the [lunar] Islamic calendar year. Following a lunar calendar

has an advantage over that of the solar year, as it is known that our bodies are affected by

lunar movements.

Moreover, the lunar calendar year is shorter than the solar [Gregorian] calendar year

by some 11 days each year, or by about one month in every three years. Thus Ramadan

keeps shifting forward every year gradually covering all the seasons over a period of roughly

35 years. This shift helps persons living in different parts of the globe to observe fasting

through changing seasons in their lives and through different fasting hours of a day. One is

not stuck to only one part of the year, which might be tough for some peoples or climates and

easy for others.

Q.4 Can non-Muslims fast?

Non-Muslims often ask this question as they would like to join with their Muslim friends in

the experience of Ramadan. In fact, many non-Muslims do practice some form of fasting, as

fasting has been prescribed in all the major religions of the world.

This brings us to a related question: Why does a Muslim fast, and why might a non-

Muslim want to fast in Ramadan? For a Muslim fasting is an obligatory act of worship; it is

not practiced for the primary end of health benefits, or for any other end for that matter, other

than for keeping with the Islamic injunctions. Our actions are to be judged by God

according to our intentions; so spiritual benefit depends upon the intentions of a person who

fasts, whether he/she is a Muslim or non-Muslim. A Muslim, who intends to fast believes in

the One and Only True God, single-mindedly holding, within his psyche, no "partner" in any

way associated with God in His exclusive divinity, in order to prepare himself for guided

growth in this life and for reward in his/her next life. If a non-Muslim, wanted to fast in a

Muslim way, he would give up every concept of God which attributes to Him any creaturely

quality of incomplete self-sufficiency – in accordance with the first principle of Islam.

Ramadan fasting is oriented around purity of intention and focus upon God-conscious

choices in daily living. Attention to correct concept of God, to contact with God through

Prayer and to Charitable giving are essential to the physical, mental and spiritual "package"

of Ramadan fasting.

Q.5 Why is the drinking of water not allowed during fasting?

A. The Islamic fast is a ‘total’ fast, i.e., a complete abstention from food, water, and sensual

indulgence from dawn to dusk. In fact, it can be seen that originally, fasting in other religions

too (e.g., in Judaism and Christianity) was also total; partial fasting was a later development.

The Islamic way of fasting was not fixed by man, prophet or otherwise, through his own

wisdom or after some experimental accomplishments. Ramadan fasting has been ordained by

the One who created man, and Who has the absolute knowledge of man’s nature, capabilities,

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needs and requirements, and Who thoroughly understands the things which are beneficial and

harmful to man. The benefits or harms involved with methods of fasting have also been

scientifically recognized. We must also bear in mind that man is a composite of many

aspects, physical, spiritual, moral and social. The divine injunctions are meant for the good of

man’s existence and growth in his multifaceted nature, and the Qur’an encourages us to

discover the wisdom and benefits behind these commands.

Q.6 On what basis is the duration of the fast fixed? A. The duration of the fast [from dawn to dusk] is also not fixed by man; it, too, is divinely

ordained, as discussed above. The duration of the month of Ramadan is determined by the

sighting of the new moon at the beginning and the end; accordingly, Ramadan can have 29 or

30 days.

Q.7 Why has God commanded fasting and made compulsory such a demanding ritual?

A. If the question implies that God should not have prescribed such a demanding ritual, then

this would be questioning the divine wisdom.

Secondly, the word ‘hardship’ is relative. For those who do not fast, fasting may appear

demanding, but those who fast (which often includes even quite young children) enjoy the

experience; they generally do not find it overly demanding.

Thirdly, for the sake of argument, if we accept that it is difficult to fast from morning to

evening, day after day, then we can say that in our lives we undertake many really hard tasks

in order to attain something for worldly benefits. Following that line of reasoning then, for

the sake of God, or for attaining spiritual developments, any hardship is found to be more

than welcome.

Lastly, if it is genuinely beyond the capacity of a person to fast, and he/she is not in a

position to fast safely, then such a person is exempted from fasting and other alternatives are

available for him/her.

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